Merry Christmas

With DADT going away at some point next year, I have much to be thankful for.

Who knows? I may see what the requirements are to rejoin and try to get back in. I would enjoy nothing better than to be back teaching at the Air Force Academy. I only got to teach for one year before I was forced to resign.

I wish everyone a joyous new year.

DADT now significantly closer to ending

The Senate voted 65-31 to repeal DADT. Two more Republicans voted to repeal than voted to end the filibuster. This was pretty definitive and far better than I anticipated.

We should thank the U.S. Senate for doing what was right and long overdue.

There are many of those whom I knew years ago who were forced out but who died in all those many intervening years. I choose to believe they were here in spirit and certainly are here in my thoughts.

There are two more major steps: the President needs to sign the bill and then "the president and his top military advisers must certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' fighting ability. After that, there's a 60-day waiting period for the military."

This is going to be a very happy holiday season for me. After waiting for 31-years, this was long anticipated. However, that does not diminish my joy at this significant moment in history.

---

Filibuster now prohibited

The Senate voted 63-33 to end the fillibuster on DADT.

The Senate will likely vote soon to repeal DADT. Several Republicans have joined with the Democrats to reach this stage of the process.

At this moment, there is a Quorum Call - Waiting for Senators to speak before the final vote.

---

DADT could end today

MSNBC reports that Senator Reid believes he has the necessary 60 votes to overturn DADT later today.

This is it. The final showdown to end decades (and generations) of discrimination against gay people. We've always been treated as second class as much because of this as any other measure or issue.

My fingers are crossed.

---

DADT 11th Hour

The House has passed a final, stand-alone measure and repealed DADT. However, the Senate must still confirm the new bill.

Three Republican Senators have said they will support the measure. Unfortunately, for the last vote in which the measure was part of the defense bill, a single Democrat Senator, the new one from West Virginia, sided with the other Republicans against repealing DADT.

For DADT to end and gays and lesbians to be able to serve without fear of being ousted, one more vote apparently is needed to reach 60 votes for the measure to overcome John McCain's filibuster threat. Either the new West Virginia Senator needs to vote with his Democrat colleagues or one more Republican Senator needs to be found to join with the Democrats to ensure passage.

This will likely be the very last chance for some time to come. The more conservative Republican house members and senators are not likely to revive this issue while they are in control of the house and are closer to control in the senate.

It was a shame that the previous West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd died on June 28th of this year. Had he lived six months longer, he would likely have easily supported the repeal of DADT and we would not be in this predicament of needing one more vote in the Senate to end this enduring nightmare. Same with the late Edward Kennedy.

To be this close is agonizing for someone like me who has waited over 31 years for this to end.

---

DADT Repeal could occur tonight

I received an email from the Campaign to repeal DADT that Senator Harry Reid may bring a vote to repeal DADT tonight.

I emailed my two Colorado (Democratic) Senators who voted to repeal the last time and asked that they please vote to repeal DADT.

Consider calling or emailing your own senators and as them to vote to repeal. Because of the study published several days ago, even a couple of Republican senators have expressed their view that they will vote for repeal.

This opportunity may not come again for a long, long time.

-Greg Sanchez

---